Antonie van Leeuwenhoek – Father of Microbiology. (Microbiology #2 – History)

jepper (55)in #steemstem • 7 years ago

Hi guys! Welcome to the next episode of my microbiology series (first episode HERE)!
Today I would like to introduce you to the father of microbiology – Antonie van Leeuwenhoek a Dutch scientist born in 17th century. Mainly a self-taught and curios man that gave birth not only to microbiology, but also pioneered microscopy.

Let’s get to know him better, shall we?

How it all began?

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) did not just wake up one day and decided to become father of microbiology. No. This story began a tad different. When he was in his twenties he decided to open a draper's shop. As a boy he used to work as an apprentice at draper's shop, so it probably seemed like a reasonable idea to him. Back in the day, magnifying glasses were used to perceive the quality of the thread. But Antonie wanted to see it even better. Combined with his grand interest in microscopes as well as previous experience with glass processing led to something unique. He was able to create microscope that was far superior to any other microscope that existed at the time. He actually created more than 500 hundred of these instruments throughout his life.

Van_Leeuwenhoek's_microscopes_by_Henry_Baker.jpg

Drawing of microscopes owned by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
Source

Discovery of a new world

Imagine seeing something that no-one before you did. Not just one thing, but whole new world- to which you are the first visitor. That is probably how Antonie van Leeuwenhoek felt when he glanced through his microscope and journeyed to this new microbiological universe. What was his driving force you ask? Curiosity.

What he discovered?

Well, many things. Little things. He basically looked at anything he deemed interesting. One of his first observations were the parts of the sting and mouth of bee. But he was also the first one to observe sperm, yeast, algae, blood cells and many more. Luckily for the world he was also really good painter and thus supplied his scientific letters with accurate drawings of his observations. Take a look for yourself.

Parts of the sting and mouth of a bee.
Source

Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae.
Source 1 2

Observations of canine sperm and Zoea-larva of the shrimp.
Source 1 2

Road to fame

After few of his initial observations he decided to write a letter, containing some of his discoveries, to the Royal Society – a prominent scientific organization at the time. And they were astonished. Really.

By the time he died, van Leeuwenhoek had written around 190 letters to the Royal Society, detailing his findings in microbiology and microscopy. But, he also did have some quirks. For example, he always worked alone, distrusting anyone. He also did only write in his native tongue - Dutch, never in Latin (a scientific language at the time).

Well, he did build quite a name for himself. Many famous individuals did visit this prestigious scientist, for example Mary II of England, William III of Orange, or even Russian Tsar Peter the Great. They all wanted to see how is he able to dwell into this microscopic realm. But van Leeuwenhoek was primarily a businessman, not a scientist. He believed that if he gave up his secret of lens crafting, then he would be forgotten. Thus, many of his visitors were met with disappointment as they were mainly presented some of his "average" microscopes.

Various microscopic observations of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek.
Source

I would like to finish this article with inspirational quote from Mr. van Leeuwenhoek, which I think is still relevant for every scientist even today.

”My work, which I've done for a long time, was not pursued in order to gain the praise I now enjoy, but chiefly from a craving after knowledge, which I notice resides in me more than in most other men. And therewithal, whenever I found out anything remarkable, I have thought it my duty to put down my discovery on paper, so that all ingenious people might be informed thereof.”